REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN BERGENFIELD, NEW JERSEY

SOUTH CHURCH CEMETERY

South Church
150 West Church St
Click here for Map / Directions

The historic marker in front of the church states that many Revolutionary War soldiers are buried here. [1] However, there is only one identified grave of a Revolutionary War soldier in the cemetery, James Christie.

Revolutionary War officer James Christie (September 6, 1744 - July 23, 1817) is buried in a grave located just behind the church. At this time, his grave is not marked as a Revolutionary War veteran. However, his tombstone does identify him as Captain James Christie. [2]

The church building was built in 1799, with additions and alterations made in 1866 - 1867. It replaced an earlier church structure that was built in 1728, which stood 150 feet to the east of the current church building. [3]

Source Notes:

1. ^ Bergen County Historical Society sign

2. ^ • South Church Cemetery Superintendent John W. Koromhas provided me with a copy of a Veterans Graves Registration map of the cemetery done by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, and another document from his records that listed veterans in the cemetery. Based on these documents, the only person buried in this cemetery who can be identified as a Revolutionary War veteran is Captain Christie.
(Of course, there may be other Revolutionary War soldiers buried here who have not been identified.)

I would like to thank John for taking the time to speak with me, and for providing me with these documents.

• Birth and death date information from Captain Christie's gravestone

• William S. Stryker, Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War (Trenton: Wm. T. Nicholson & Co., 1872)
lists Christie, James. Captain, Bergen on page 385
Available at Google Books here.

3. ^ Information about the history of the church building was drawn from the History page of the church's website and the Bergen County Historical Society sign in front of the church.
Church website states that the present church building "was built a short distance to the west of the original building."
The Bergen County Historical Society sign gives the more specific "150 feet."